Jacob, Esau and Joseph

The passages in today's reading come from chpts 35, 36, 37.

Chpt 35 recounts the settling of Jacob's family in Bethel. Bethel means "The House of God" and it was here - some 20 years before - that Jacob had seen the staircase to Heaven (chpt 28). It was here, 20 years before, that Jacob made a vow to God, that if He would keep him safe, protect him, be with him, that he would come back and worship...and so he does!
At Bethel, God confirms the name change...(vs 10),
God said to him, "Your name is Jacob, but you will no longer be called Jacob; your name will be Israel." So he named him Israel.

In chpt 36, Esau's generational line is recounted. From Esau would come the Edomites. Genealogies meant everything in terms of tribal succession, so while lists of names have very little appeal, remember, they are not names unknown to God.

Finally, in chpt 37, we are introduced to the next and last part of the Genesis story - Joseph. The elder of the two sons born to Rachel, Joseph is "loved" by Jacob more than the others. As a parent it is not wise to place favor on one child over another, but we all admit some children are easier than others to raise. Was Joseph one of those children? Or is it because he came from Rachel as the first born? Either way, Joseph dreams. His dreams and visions are going to be integral to who he is. He dreams prophetically, so none can appreciate either him or the dreams. Notice the brother's posture in all of this. Reuben, who earlier had slept with one of Jacob's concubines, is the one who seemingly seeks to save him. Judah, the family line of Jesus, is the one that suggests selling him...it's not a very pretty picture.

So, here we are again. At the end of 37, Joseph, rather than Jacob, is in another country...and once again God is going to use a long sojourning period to create this nation - Israel. They came from Haran in the North (modern day Northern Iraq), traveled back to Bethel, and within a few years Joseph is in Egypt, and soon his family too...and then for almost 400 years. God is not in a hurry to create in us the character and qualities of holiness that will mark out our lives.

Peace to you wherever you are.


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